The Use of Dimethyl-Sulfoxide (DMSO) in the Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis

Abstract

Dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) was used in 17 patients with interstitial cystitis. The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical and laboratory findings and the characteristic picture with Hunner ulcera. The majority of the patients had responded poorly to other forms of conservative treatment. Subjective symptoms were controlled in 2/3 of the cases but repeated treatment was needed and 5 patients did not respond to the therapy. The DMSO treatment is an alternative worth to try and has in some cases a dramatic and lasting effect.

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) as intravesical therapy for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: A review

“…Neither clinical trials nor case reports have shown any link to cataract formation and no human cases of lens opacification have been documented, but lens changes continue to be a precaution on DMSO formulations. 11,23,26 Side-effects are generally transient, self-limited, and resolve within 1-3 days following therapy. One single-arm trial and one "cocktail" therapy trial diagnosed 6% of DMSO-treated patients with bacterial cystitis following instillation.…”

“…20,27 However, many studies report no systemic or local complications during or following DMSO therapy and no studies in the literature have reported any long-term adverse effects. 14,21,26,28 One major hurdle with conducting randomized-controlled trials verses placebo is the strong garlic odor that accompanies DMSO administration and subsequent pulmonary excretion. 8 Such a side effect makes blinding for a clinical trial involving DMSO extraordinarily challenging.…”

“…One advantage of direct bladder instillation is the avoidance of systemic toxicity. Neither clinical trials nor case reports have shown any link to cataract formation and no human cases of lens opacification have been documented, but lens changes continue to be a precaution on DMSO formulations . Side‐effects are generally transient, self‐limited, and resolve within 1‐3 days following therapy.…”

Interstitial Cystitis

“…Stewart and Shirley (1976) showed that 74% of their 45 patients had a good to excellent symptomatic response to DMSO, whilst 13% had a poor response. In other series, 12 of I7 patients had dramatic symptomatic relief (Ek et al, 1978) and 19 of 20 patients showed complete symptomatic remission (Fowler, 1981).…”

REVIEW ARTICLE THERAPEUTIC PROGRESS–REVIEW XXXVI: ARE WE MAKING PROGRESS IN THE DRUG TREATMENT OF DISORDERS OF THE BLADDER, PROSTATE, and PENIS?

“…It is rapidly absorbed and has a serum half-life of approximately 2. 5 h. An open study showed that oxybutynin diminished detrusor contractions causing an increased bladder capacity (17). Symptoms of urinary frequency and urgency may therefore be reduced but there was a wide variation in response, depending upon the cause of bladder dysfunction (this study was not limited to idiopathic instability) and upon individual sensitivity.…”